Mailing tube



`une V26,. 1923.

J. LOUFEK MAILING TUBE Filed oct.

Joseph INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented June Z6, i323.

attain y critica, i

JOSEPH LOUFEK, 01? KEOKUK, IOJVA, ASSIGNOR TO IOWA CAN COMPANY, OF KEOKUK, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

MAILING TUBE.

Application filed October 15, 1921. SeraINo. 507,888.

To all fic/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Josnrrr LOUFEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keokuk, in the countyof Lee and State of Iowa,

5 have invented a new and useful Mailing Tube, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mailing tubes.

The object is to provide means to be attached to and carried by a mailing tube for the purpose of securing the closure cap in position on the end of the tube in such manner as to permit of the ready inspection of the contents of the tube by the authorities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Post Office Department.

Another object is to provide fastening means at one or both ends of the tube, such means being within easy reach of the oper ator and readily manipulated to accomplish this purpose, the tube being formed in the ordinary manner of heavy paste board to prevent collapse in transit, and equipped with a simple cord fastener so adapted `to the tube as to prevent its dislodgment therefrom when the tube is not in use, and capable of being tied in a manner to effectually hold the cap in place against accidental displacement, thus obviating the necessity for using expensive screw caps and other metallic devices which often result in injury when `screwing or unscrewing the same for closing or opening the tube.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obt-ained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tube constructed in accordance with the invention, the cap therefor being shown in spaced relation to the same.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of one end of the tube, showing the first step .in the operation of attaching the cap and securing the same in position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the final step o f securingthe cap and fastening the same in position.

F ig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the tube, showing the manner of threading the fastening cord through the perforations thereof.

Fig. 5 is ak detail sectional kview taken longitudinally through one end of the tube and the closure cap for the same.

In order to comply with the postal regulations all matter of a certain class which is permitted to be mailed in a tube must be capable of ready inspection by the authori-` ties, and at the same time the contents of the tube must be protected from the weather, etc., and for this purpose it has been customary to provide a light-weight, though strong tube of varying diameters, and having caps or closures at each end, one of which is preferably secured permanently in place, so that the removed, whendesired, to see if the contents are of the proper class to come within the rates of matter properly mailable in this manner. Y

The use of metallic screw caps at one or both ends of the tube has been found eXpen sive and heavy, thus causing the expenditure of unnecessary postage by reason of the other or free cap may be edge at the open end of the cap often cuts the fingers when attempting to turn the same. F or this reason, the present invention has been designed to provide a simple, inexpensive and readily operated means for closing the ends of mailing tubes, and of securing the closure caps in such a manner asto readily permit of their removal for inspection of the interior of the tube, while preventing their accidental displacement during transit of the tube through the mails, it being often the habit of postal employees to handle such matter more or less roughly during the haste and rush of their operations.

As illustrated in the drawing, the tube 1 is of cylindrical form in cross section, and may be formed of any suitable material having` one end thereof provided with a closure cap 2, comprising a head for covering the end of the tube, and a flange 3 connected therewith and preferably in surrounding relation to the end of the tube to which the same is -glued or otherwise secured, though the said flange may as well loe located on the interior of the end of the tube.

The other end of the tube is open and is adapted to receive another :cap 4, similarly formed to the first-named cap, and having the integral iflange 5 provided thereon ot a diameter to lit over the Jfree end of the tube and to trictionally engage the same, the two caps serving to exclude any moisture and to otherwise protect the contents ot' the tube when the. same is inluse.

Adjacent to the free edge of the flange 5, carried by the detachable cap 4, when the latter is in position on the open end ot the tube l, is a series ot four diametrically-opposite holes 6 formed inthe wallet the tube, asclearly shownin the drawing. A length ott string 7 is threaded through the opposed lholes and is adapted to engage and to securely hold the detachable cap in position on the normally open end ot' the tube in the following manner.

The string 7 is doubled upon itself at the center o'f the same, and the ends are then threaded through a. pair ot adjacent holes 6 from the outside of the tube, the said ends being directed straight across the interior of the tube, thoughat opposite sides ot the center` line ot the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and then carried through the corresponding holes 6 at the opposite side of the tube, where the terminals ot' the cord are allowed to project. After the cap 4 is placedon the end ot the tube, the central portion of the cord is drawn over the outer side ot the cap 4, as

.indicated at 7au in Fig. 2, and one ot the ter.-

minals 7b is passed through the loop thus formed and caused to engage the latter at or near the center ot the said cap 4. The other terminal 7C is then brought. towards the center ot the cap, and `the'two tree ends ot' the cord are then knotted together as at 7d, thus providing crossed cords passing across the center of thecap and etiectually preventing` the removal ot the cap by accident, it being only necessary to untie the knot 7d to disclose the contents of the tube and the tube and cap are lett intact to be repeatedly used tor the purpose.

lt desired, the ends of the cord may be knotted to prevent it becoming unthreaded from the openings in the tube, in which eventthe same cord would be used repeatedly.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple, cheaply manufactured and eliicient closure tor mailing tubes has been provided, which is in strict accordance with the requirements of the authorities, and that the same may be operated to remain in closing 'relation to 'the end oit the tube while in use, there being no danger o'lz injury to the hand during such operation.

What is claimed is l. A mailing tube comprising a tubular container having an open end provided with la plurality ot diametrically-opposite perforations through the wall ot the tube in spaced relation to the open end thereof, a closure cap fitting the said open end ot' the tube, anda single cord passed through the pert'orations and 'formed with a pair ot loops, said loops being engaged with each other and crossing at the center of the cap, the ends ot' the cord being` secured together'. 2. A mailing tube comprising a tubular container having an open end provided with tour diametrically opposite holes, said holes being spaced trom the open end ot' the tube, a closure cap having a marginal flange fit-A ting the said open end, with the edge of the said flange spaced from said holes. and a single cord passed through the holes and formed into a pair ot' loops, said loops being engaged with each other and crossing at the center ot the cap and the ends o'ltlie cord being tied to secure the cup `in place.

In testimony that I claim thextoregoing as my own, l have hereto aiiiXed my signature.

JOSEPH LOUFEK.. 

